Mumbai: Amid Indian Navy’s ongoing drills in the Arabian Sea, India’s maritime authorities have issued a stern navigation warning for ships to exercise caution.
The NavArea alert, issued for a maritime stretch off the Gujarat coast, has advised warships venturing into its designated firing zone in the northern Arabian Sea do so “at their own peril.”
The designated Indian zone, about 80 to 85 nautical miles from where Pakistani vessels are training, has been marked as dangerous for navigation due to ongoing firing exercises.
“We have made it clear that if any warship or ship enters that zone, she will do so at its own peril,” a naval officer was quoted as saying.
The navigation alert is significant as tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising over the Pahalgam terror attack. India have accused Pakistan of repeated violations along the Line of Control.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, who met Narendra Modi on Saturday evening, briefed the Prime on the overall situation in the critical Arabian Sea domain.
The warning alert, issued by the National Hydrographic Office that operates under Indian Navy, has also advised commercial vessels to avoid the area for safety reasons, PTI reported.
Pakistan also issued naval warnings after its Navy ramped up its manoeuvring in the critical sea lanes.
Pakistan Navy, too, has been carrying out intense drills and live firings in the Arabian Sea over the last few days.
Both Navies, as well as the military and Air Force, have been on high alert with India taking several diplomatic steps and mulling other retaliatory measures against Pakistan in view of the cross-border terrorism linkages to the April 22 attack at Baisaran valley that led to the gunning down of 26 people, mostly tourists.
India has blamed “cross-border linkages” to the horrific massacre of innocent civilians, and promised severe punishment to those involved in the act of terror.
